Information management apparatus

ABSTRACT

An information management apparatus capable of reliable management of distributed information and an information providing system employing the same information management apparatus has a main information reproducing system for reproducing main information recorded in a given recording medium; and a reproduction management system for managing the main information reproducing system for reproducing the main information. A receiver is provided with a unit for recording distributed information and control information limiting the number of main information reproducing cycles on a recording medium, and a main information reproducing system provided with a reproduction disabling function for limiting the reproduction of main information.

The present application is a continuation of application Ser. No.10/022,736, filed Dec. 20, 2001 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,731,451; which is acontinuation of application Ser. No. 09/642,770, filed Aug. 22, 2000,now U.S. Pat. No. 6,388,831; which is a continuation of application Ser.No. 09/482,312, filed Jan. 14, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,204,985; whichis a continuation of application Ser. No. 09/126,435, filed Jul. 30,1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,031,677; which is a continuation of Ser. No.08/928,628, filed Sep. 12, 1997, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,825,969; which is acontinuation of Ser. No. 08/391,554, filed Feb. 21, 1995, now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an information providing system. Moreparticularly, the present invention relates to an information managementapparatus capable of reliable management of distributed information andan information providing system employing the same informationmanagement apparatus.

Advanced computerization has promoted the establishment of variousinformation providing systems, such as the Dial Q2 System usingtelephone lines.

When an information providing system provides copyrighted pieces ofinformation, such as musical works or motion pictures, the reliabilityof management of the copyrights of the information is one of theimportant factors that determine the economical feasibility of theinformation providing system. Particularly, when the informationproviding system provides information represented by digital signals,the importance of the reliability of copyright management is even moresignificant because digital signals can be copied without entailingsignificant signal degradation. A method of inhibiting the copying ofinformation, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-open (Kokai) No.1-288582, mixes false signals for causing the automatic gain controlsystem of VTRs to malfunction into the digital signals representing theinformation to degrade the quality of pictures copied on recordingtapes.

On the other hand, in a country where cable television broadcastingsystems are widespread, such as the U.S.A., it is possible to developinformation providing systems that provide digital signals representinginformation desired by subscribers, such as video software, and to usethe cable television broadcasting systems as information transfer means.Newly released films are particularly high-valued matters of videosoftware. When providing such high-valued matters of video software, itis essential to establish a highly intelligent information managementsystem which is capable of limiting the number of reproducing cycles, aswell as inhibiting copying. The aforesaid known method of inhibitingcopying information is incapable of dealing with limiting the number ofreproducing cycles.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide an informationmanagement apparatus capable of solving the problems in the prior artand of surely imposing restrictions on distributed informationreproducing operations and the number of cycles of reproduction ofdistributed information, and an information providing system employingthe same information management apparatus.

With the foregoing object in view, the present invention provides areceiver provided with a recorder for recording distributed informationand control information while limiting the number of main informationreproducing cycles on a recording medium, and a main informationreceiver provided with a reproduction disabling unit for limiting thereproduction of main information.

The present invention employs the following features:

A means for recording, as control information, allowable conditioninformation representing allowable conditions for the reproduction ofmain information distributed by the information provider.

A means for recording as control information execution processinformation representing the process of operations of means forreproducing the main information.

A disable control means that compares allowable condition informationand execution process information, and actuates reproduction disablingmeans according to the result of comparison, the disable control meansbeing provided in the main information reproducing means.

A means for recording, as control information, accounting informationfor charging for the reproduction of the main information by the maininformation reproducing means.

A means for recording control information near a position where anoperation for recording the main information in the recording mediumand/or an operation for reproducing the main information is startedand/or terminated.

A means for recording control information in a recording medium storingthe main information or in a second recording medium formed integrallywith the recording medium storing the main information.

A means for recording and reproducing the control information with thereproducing head of the main information reproducing means.

The present invention also employs the following features for limitingthe number of cycles of reproduction:

A reproduction disabling means disables the main information reproducingoperation of the main information reproducing means for reproducing aportion of the main information which has already been reproduced, ordisables the main information reproducing operation after the maininformation has been reproduced once or after the main information hasbeen reproduced an allowable number of times.

A detecting means for detecting the number of executed reproducingcycles and actuating reproduction disabling means upon an increase ofthe detected number of executed reproducing cycles to a given number ofreproducing cycles, the detecting means being provided in thereproduction disabling means.

A decision means for deciding whether or not the operation of thereproduction disabling means is normal, and inhibiting the reproductionof information when the operation of the reproduction disabling means isabnormal, the decision means being provided in the reproductiondisabling means.

The reproduction disabling means inhibits the backward reproduction ofthe main information by the main information reproducing means.

The recording medium is capable of being detachably loaded into the maininformation reproducing means, and, once the recording medium is removedfrom the main information reproducing means, while the main informationis being reproduced, the restart of the reproduction of the maininformation is refused when the recording medium is loaded again intothe main information reproducing means.

The reproduction disabling means is provided with a main informationdegrading means for degrading or erasing at least a portion of the maininformation or with a main information erasing means.

A degrading or erasing head is disposed after the reproducing head, asthe main information degrading means or the main information erasingmeans.

The control information comprises allowable condition informationrepresenting allowable conditions for main information reproduction, andexecution process information representing the process of execution ofmain information reproduction to impose restrictions on the number ofreproducing cycles to be carried out by receiving means and the likeaccording to the control information. The control information isrecorded on the recording medium and the number of reproducing cycles islimited according to the contents of the control information. Whenreproducing the main information, new reproducing cycle information isrecorded as the execution process information to have an accurate graspof the number of reproducing cycles carried out by the receiving means.

The control information is recorded on the recording medium near aposition where an operation for recording the main information and/or anoperation for reproducing the main information is started and/orterminated to enable the reproduction of the control informationimmediately at the start of the next reproducing cycle to have anaccurate grasp of the reproducing conditions and the number ofreproducing cycles.

The control information is recorded on the recording medium for storingthe main information or on a second recording medium formed integrallywith the recording medium for storing the main information. Whenrecording the control information on a second recording medium, measuresare taken to prevent confusion of the main information stored in therecording medium with control information stored in the second recordingmedium.

A reproducing apparatus or a recording/reproducing apparatus forreproducing the main information disables the reproduction of theinformation recorded on an information recording medium after theinformation has been reproduced or after the number of executedreproducing cycles reaches an allowable number of reproducing cycles.

The reproduction disabling means erases at least a portion of thesignals recorded on the information recording medium or rewrites atleast a portion of the signals with another signal.

The decision means of the reproduction disabling means actuates thereproduction disabling means upon detection of an abnormal operation ofthe reproduction disabling means.

The decision means of the reproduction disabling means records anoperation confirmation signal before the signals recorded on theinformation recording medium, searches for the operation confirmationsignal in the next reproducing cycle, and decides that the reproductiondisabling means is abnormal when the operation confirmation signal isfound.

When the information recording/reproducing apparatus is a helicalscanning VTR, the reproduction disabling means (erasing head) erases atrack adjacent a track scanned with the recording/reproducing head.

In a reproducing apparatus or a recording/reproducing apparatus for timedivision data, the reproduction disabling means erases the time divisiondata after reproduction or in the next time division data reproducingcycle.

The reproducing apparatus or the recording/reproducing apparatus for theinformation receives information to be recorded and allowable number ofreproducing cycles information through a communication line. The aboveand other objects, features and advantages of this invention will beapparent from the following description of preferred embodimentsthereof, taken in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1( a) and 1(b) are block diagrams of video software providingsystems incorporating the present invention, in which FIG. 1( a) shows arecording system and FIG. 1( b) shows a reproducing system.

FIGS. 2( a) and 2(b) are views showing a tape format to be used by anembodiment of the present invention, while FIG. 2( c) is a timingdiagram related to the tape reproducing operation.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart of a recording method to be carried out by anembodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 4( a) and 4(b) are a view showing a tape format to be used byanother embodiment of the present invention and a timing diagram relatedto the tape reproducing operation, respectively.

FIG. 5 is a view showing a tape form to be used by another embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart of a reproducing method to be carried out by anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a video software providing system accordingto the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a typical plan view of a rotary drum unit included in arecording/reproducing apparatus employed in an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 9 is a schematic side view of a rotary drum unit included in arecording/reproducing apparatus employed in an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 10 is a flow chart of a reproducing method to be carried out by afurther embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a typical diagram for use in explaining the respectiveheights of the heads of a rotary drum unit included in arecording/reproducing apparatus employed in an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 12 is a typical view of tracks on a tape to be used by anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a schematic plan view of a rotary drum unit included in arecording/reproducing apparatus to be used in an embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 14 is a schematic side view of a rotary drum unit included in arecording/reproducing apparatus to be used in an embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 15 is a diagram for use in explaining the respective heights ofheads of a rotary drum unit included in a recording/reproducingapparatus to be used by an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a typical view of recording tracks on a tape to be used by anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a schematic plan view of an information recording apparatus,particularly showing a tape path.

FIGS. 18( a), 18(b) and 18(c) are side views showing a tape path in aninformation recording apparatus to be used by the present invention.

FIG. 19 is a plan view of a stationary head type tape recorder embodyingthe present invention.

FIG. 20 is a schematic plan view of a rotary drum included in aninformation recording apparatus to be used by the present invention.

FIG. 21 is a schematic side view of a rotary drum included in aninformation recording apparatus to be used by the present invention.

FIG. 22 is a diagram for use in explaining the respective heights ofheads of an information recording apparatus to be used by the presentinvention.

FIG. 23 is a typical view of a recording pattern in which information isrecorded by an information recording apparatus to be used by the presentinvention.

FIGS. 24( a), 24(b) and 24(c) are timing charts for use in explaining asignal processing method to be carried out by an information recordingapparatus to be used by the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be describedhereinafter with reference to the drawings.

FIGS. 1( a) and 1(b) are block diagrams of an information providingsystem employing an information recording apparatus, such as a VOD(video-on-demand) system, for providing on-demand pay-per-view videosoftware, incorporating the present invention. The information providingsystem comprises, as basic components, a transmitter 1 of a videosoftware provider, i.e., a transmitting means, a domestic helicalscanning VTR 3, i.e., a receiving means, and a cable television line 2,i.e., a transfer means. A tape cassette 5, the recording medium of arecording means, is loaded into the domestic VTR 3.

In this embodiment, video signals, i.e., main information, allowablecondition information for restricting the recording and/or thereproduction of the main information or representing allowableconditions for reproduction, i.e., reproduction management means formanaging the reproduction of the main information, and controlinformation, such as execution process information representing theprocess of execution of main information reproduction, are stored on therecording tape contained in the tape cassette 5.

The subscriber sends a request by telephone 8 to the provider to sendvideo software. The subscriber dials the provider and enters the codenumber of a selected matter of video software by operating the key ofthe telephone 8. Then, the subscriber is informed of a charge calculatedon the basis of a time period which extends from the start of provisionof the piece of video software until its end and the time limit from therequest to the delivery (urgent delivery is expensive), and the requestis completed upon the subscriber's approval of the charge. The charge iscollected periodically at future times by direct billing or is drawnfrom a bank account specified by the subscriber. Since the requestingmethod in this embodiment uses the telephone 8, the push buttons of thetelephone 8 can be effectively used for entering the information.

Another requesting method uses the cable television line 2 serving asthe transfer means and enters information by operating the keys of theVTR or a remote controller for controlling the VTR. The use of a singlecable television line for both requesting the piece of video softwarefrom the provider and providing the piece of video software by theprovider in a two-way transmission mode enables more efficient use ofthe line.

Upon the reception of the request, the provider examines subscriber'scondition through the cable television line to see whether or not thetape cassette 5 is loaded into the subscriber's VTR 3 and whether or notthe tape cassette 5 has a residual recording capacity sufficient forrecording the requested piece of video software. Whether or not the tapecassette 5 is loaded into the VTR 3 can be determined from the conditionof a push switch, provided on the VTR 3, which is operated by the tapecassette 5. The residual recording capacity of the tape cassette 5 isestimated by moving the tape at a given speed and detecting the rotatingspeed of the reel. The estimated residual recording capacity is comparedwith the capacity of the requested piece of video software. Thisinformation is transmitted through the cable television line. If evenone of the conditions required of the VTR 3 is not satisfied, a messageis sent to that effect through a telephone line or the cable televisionline to the subscriber, and the start of requested video softwaretransmission is suspended until all the required conditions aresatisfied in order that information can be surely provided.

Whether or not the tape cassette 5 is loaded into the VTR. 3 and whetheror not the residual recording capacity of the tape cassette issufficient may be determined, for example, by a built-in controller 9 ofthe subscriber's VTR 3.

When the tape cassette 5 is loaded into the VTR 3 and has a sufficientresidual recording capacity, the transmission of digital signalsrepresenting the specified piece of video software by a transmitter isstarted and the digital signals are transmitted through the cabletelevision line 2. Although the digital signals may be transmitted in anormal state for a given time from the start of requested video softwaretransmission, generally, the digital signals are scrambled to avoidunauthorized access to and the reproduction of the digital signals.Therefore, control information for descrambling the digital signals isindispensable to the normal reproduction of the digital signals. Thenonscrambled digital signals and which are transmitted in the initialgiven time and can be reproduced by the subscriber facilitate theconfirmation of the contents of the tape cassette.

Allowable condition information about allowable conditions forreproduction is transmitted together with the video signals representingthe piece of video software, i.e., the main information. The allowablecondition information and the video signals applied to a recordingcircuit 4 included in the subscriber's VTR 3 are separated, theallowable condition information is recorded as control informationtogether with execution process information provided by the subscriber'sVTR at a given position on the tape. The control information includesallowable condition information representing an allowable condition forreproducing the main information, such as code number informationassigned to the subscriber's VTR, key code information for descrambling,and information including an allowable number of reproducing cyclesprovided by the transmitter, and execution process information providedby the controller 9 of the subscriber's VTR and representing the processof execution of reproduction of the main information, such as recordingstarting position information, recording terminating positioninformation and reproduction repetition information representing thenumber of executed reproducing cycles.

When the piece of video software is reproduced, both the maininformation (video signals) and the control information reproduced fromthe tape are supplied to a reproducing circuit 6. The reproducingcircuit 6 separates the control information, including the executionprocess information, from the main information and applies the same tothe controller 9. The controller reads the number of executedreproducing cycles from the input information, compares the number ofexecuted reproducing cycles with the allowable number of reproducingcycles provided by the transmitting device 1, and sends descramblepermission information to the reproducing circuit 6 when the number ofexecuted reproducing cycles is smaller than the allowable number ofreproducing cycles. Then, the reproducing circuit 6 descrambles thevideo signal, converts the digital signals into corresponding analogsignals, and then sends the analog signals to a display 7. Meanwhile,the controller 9 supplies reproduction repetition informationrepresenting the number of executed reproducing cycles to a recordingcircuit, and then the recording circuit records the new reproductionrepetition information, and position information representing areproduction starting position and a reproduction terminating positionon the tape. If the number of executed reproducing cycles is equal to orgreater than the allowable number of reproducing cycles provided by thetransmitter, then only scrambled main information is displayed on thedisplay.

A recording method will be described hereinafter with reference to FIG.2( a) showing a recording pattern. The main information transmitted bythe transmitter, the allowable condition information transmitted by acontrol signal transmitter, and the execution process informationprovided by the controller are recorded on the tape in a pattern asshown in FIG. 2( a). The control information, i.e., recording startcontrol information 0-start, including the allowable conditioninformation, including the code number information representing the codenumber of the subscriber's VTR, the key code information fordescrambling, and the information representing the allowable number ofreproducing cycles provided by the transmitter, and execution processinformation indicating a video soft recording start position, isrecorded at the first position in the pattern. The execution processinformation indicating the number of reproducing cycles is recorded at agiven position on each video track (at the head of the track in FIG. 2(a)) independently of or in combination with the main information (videosignals). Control information, i.e., recording termination controlinformation 0-end, including the execution process informationrepresenting a terminating position, and the allowable conditioninformation, including the code number information representing the codenumber of the subscriber's VTR, the key code information fordescrambling, and the information representing the allowable number ofreproducing cycles provided by the transmitter is recorded at a positionwhere the video soft is terminated, and then transmission is terminated.Then, the VTR stops after rewinding the tape to the recording startingposition. The recording method is illustrated by a flow chart shown inFIG. 3.

FIG. 2( b) shows a reproducing method and a reproduced pattern inaccordance with the present invention. As shown in FIGS. 2( b) and 2(c),when reproducing the piece of video software, the recording startcontrol information 0-start is read, and the video signals aredescrambled according to the key code information only when the codenumber of the subscriber's VTR provided by the transmitter coincideswith a code number previously registered on the VTR.

Control information 1-start, including the execution processinformation, such as the position information indicating a firstreproducing cycle starting position, and the allowable conditioninformation, including the code number information representing the codenumber of the subscriber's VTR, the key code information fordescrambling, and the information representing the allowable number ofreproducing cycles provided by the transmitter, is recorded in a replacemode. The subscriber's VTR is provided with a control informationrecording head for recording the control information 1-start so as torecord the control information 1-start immediately after the reproducinghead has reproduced the video signals or after several tracks have beenreproduced. The descrambled video signals are reproduced from videotracks and are applied to the display. When reproducing the videosignals, reproduction repetition information=1 indicating the firstreproducing cycle is recorded on the pattern. The reproductionrepetition information may be recorded by the control informationrecording head. Control information 1-end including execution processinformation, including position information indicating a firstreproducing cycle terminating position, and the allowable conditioninformation, including the code number information representing the codenumber of the subscriber's. VTR, the key code information fordescrambling, and the information representing the allowable number ofreproducing cycles provided by the transmitter, is recorded at the endof the reproducing operation, and then the first reproducing cycle isterminated. The tape may be rewound immediately after the termination ofthe reproducing cycle, but the tape need not necessarily be rewound.When the tape is rewound immediately after the termination of thereproducing cycle, the VTR stops after the tape has been rewound so thata position where the control information 1-start is recorded correspondsto the control information recording head. When the tape is not rewound,the VTR stops with the tape in a state where the position where thecontrol information 1-end is recorded corresponds to the controlinformation recording head. When the second reproducing cycle is startedwith the tape in a state where the position where the controlinformation 1-start is recorded corresponds to the control informationrecording head, the control information 1-start is read, the videosignals are descrambled according to the key code information only whenthe code number of the subscriber's VTR transmitted by the transmittingdevice coincides with the code number registered beforehand on the VTR.Control information 2-start including execution process information,including position information indicating a second reproducing cyclestarting position, and the allowable condition information including thecode number information representing the code number of the subscriber'sVTR, the key code information for descrambling, and the informationrepresenting the allowable number of reproducing cycles provided by thetransmitter is recorded in a replace mode. The control information2-start may be recorded with the control information recording head. Thedescrambled video signals are applied to the display, and reproductionrepetition information=2 indicating the second reproducing cycle isrecorded on the pattern. At the end of the video software, controlinformation 2-end including execution process information, includingposition information indicating a second reproducing cycle terminatingposition, and the allowable condition information, including the codenumber information representing the code number of the subscriber's VTR,the key code information for descrambling, and the informationrepresenting the allowable number of reproducing cycles provided by thetransmitter, is recorded, and then the second reproducing cycle isterminated. If the tape is stopped in a state where the position wherethe control information 1-end is recorded corresponds to the controlinformation recording head and the VTR is operated for rewinding, thetape is rewound after the code number information indicating the codenumber of the subscriber's VTR, the key code for descrambling, and theinformation indicating the allowable number of reproducing cyclestransmitted by the transmitting device have been read. After the tapehas been rewound so that the position where the control information1-start is recorded corresponds to the control information recordinghead, the video signals are descrambled. Control information forfinal-start, including execution process information such as positioninformation indicating a third reproducing cycle starting position, andallowable condition information, including the code number informationindicating the code number of the subscriber's VTR, the key codeinformation for descrambling and the information indicating theallowable number of reproducing cycles transmitted by the transmitter,is recorded in a replace mode. Although FIGS. 2( a) and 2(c) illustratea procedure for three reproducing cycles, the procedure is repeated forthe allowable number of reproducing cycles transmitted by thetransmitting device. After the reproducing cycle has been repeated theallowable number of times, the video signals are not descrambled andonly the scrambled video signals are applied to the display. In somecases, the recording tracks are not positioned at the starting positionor the ending position due to slack in the tape or the like when thetape cassette is removed from the VTR to load another tape cassette intothe VTR and the former tape cassette is loaded again into the VTR.Therefore, the VTR has a function to search the tracks for the startingposition or the ending position for several seconds. This methoddisables the reproduction of the video signals by other VTRs having codenumbers different from the code number of the subscriber's VTR. Sinceother VTRs are unable to find the starting position or the endingposition, other VTRs are unable to rewind the tape. Accordingly, thesubscriber is able to reproduce the video signals and rewind the tapeonly using the registered VTR, and thereby highly reliable copyrightprotection can be secured.

Operation when the tape is stopped or fed for fast feed during areproducing cycle or when the tape is rewound will be described withreference to FIGS. 4( a) and 4(b) on an assumption that the allowablenumber of reproducing cycles is three, which is not limitative. FIGS. 4(a) and 4(b) illustrate a case where the first reproducing cycle wascompleted normally and the tape was not rewound to the starting positionof the first reproducing cycle for the second reproducing cycle, thesecond reproducing cycle was started from a halfway position, and thesecond reproducing cycle was interrupted. Since the first reproducingcycle was completed normally, the control information 1-start isrecorded at the starting position, the control information 1-end isrecorded at the ending position, and the reproduction repetitioninformation=1 indicating is the execution of the first reproducing cycleis recorded on each track. When the VTR is operated for the secondreproducing cycle while the tape is being rewound, first the controlinformation 1-end is read, the control information 2-start indicatingthe second reproducing cycle starting position is recorded at a halfwayposition on the tape, and then the reproducing operation is started. Thereproduction repetition information=2 indicating the second reproducingcycle is recorded on each track during the reproducing operation. Whenthe reproducing operation is interrupted, the control information 2-endindicating a second reproducing cycle ending position is recorded at aposition corresponding to the control information recording head whenthe tape is stopped, and then the VTR stops. If the VTR is operated inthe same manner during the third reproducing cycle, the controlinformation final-start is recorded at a position corresponding to thecontrol information recording head when the reproducing operation isstarted, the reproduction repetition information=3 is recorded on eachtrack, and the control signal final-end is recorded at a positioncorresponding to the control information recording head when the tape isstopped. When it is desired to reproduce a portion of the video signalswhich has been reproduced less than three times, the tape is rewound sothat the starting point of the portion of the video signals correspondsto the control information recording head, and then the VTR is operatedfor reproducing operation. In this case, the tape is rewound after thecontrol information final-end has been recorded at the ending position.If the reproduction repetition information recorded at a positioncorresponding to the control information recording head when the tape isrewound is less than three, control information including reproductionrepetition information indicating a number obtained by adding one to therecorded number of reproducing cycles is recorded at the same position,and then the reproducing operation is started. Reproduction repetitioninformation indicating a number equal to that indicated by the controlinformation recorded at the starting position is recorded on each track.If control information indicating a number equal to or greater than thenumber of reproducing cycles is read during the reproducing operation,starting position control information indicating a number obtained byadding one to the number of reproducing cycles is recorded in a replacemode when the reproduction repetition information indicates a numberless than three, and the reproducing operation is continued. When thecontrol information final-start is read, descrambling is restricted andthe scrambled video signal is applied to the display. In some cases, areproducing operation is performed to confirm a position on the tapeduring a rewinding operation and then the rewinding operation is resumedimmediately. In such a case, the starting control information and theending control information are recorded all over the tape if the startcontrol information is recorded immediately at the reproduction startingposition. Therefore, the starting signal may be recorded after thereproducing operation has been continued for a given time, andnonscrambled video signals may be reproduced for a given time. FIG. 6 isa flow chart showing steps of the foregoing reproducing method.

Although the reproducing method has been described on an assumption thatthe repetition of the reproducing cycle is limited to a plurality oftimes, information allowed to be reproduced only once may be scrambledso that the information cannot be reproduced after the information hasbeen reproduced once. However, since the video signals are recorded onthe tape contained in the tape cassette, the information providingsystem enables the subscriber to request only the key code from theprovider when the subscriber desires to reproduce the video signalsagain, and then the provider transfers the key code after the subscriberhas accepted another charge. In this case, the time required to transmitthe video signals is unnecessary, and the subscriber is able toreproduce the video signals repeatedly in a short time and to save theline charge. In this case, the information providing system reduces thecharge according to the increase in the number of repetitions of thereproducing cycle.

Although the control information, as well as the video signals, arerecorded on the track pattern with the rotary recording head in thisembodiment, the control information indicating the starting position andthe ending position or the reproduction repetition information may berecorded, for example, with a fixed recording head, as shown in FIG. 5.It is also possible to record the control information indicating thestarting position and the ending position with a rotary recording headand to record the reproduction repetition information with a fixedrecording head and vice versa. The reproduction repetition informationmay be recorded every several tracks or may be recorded on every track.Although the reproduction repetition information is recorded on everytrack in the cases shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the reproduction repetitioninformation may be recorded every several tracks. Although the samereproduction-repetition information may be recorded on all the tracks inthe aforesaid cases, it is also possible to record, for example, addressinformation. Although the control information is recorded in the upperpart and the lower part of the tape pattern in the cases shown in FIGS.2, 3 and 4, the control information may be recorded at any position onthe tape pattern.

Although the video signals and the control information are recorded onthe same recording medium in this embodiment, the video signals and thecontrol information may be recorded on separate recording media,respectively. A second embodiment of the present invention will bedescribed hereinafter with reference to FIG. 7.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a video software providing systemincorporating the second embodiment of the present invention. The videosoftware providing system comprises, as basic components, a provider'stransmitter 1, i.e., a transmission means, a domestic helical scanningVTR 3, i.e., a receiving means, and a cable television line 2, i.e., atransfer means. A tape cassette 5, i.e., a recording medium serving as afirst recording means, is loaded into the domestic VTR 3, i.e., thereceiving means. The tape cassette 5 is provided with an IC memory 10,i.e., a recording medium serving as a second recording means, on itscase. The terminals of the IC memory 10 are connected to the relevantcircuit of the VTR 3.

Since the tape cassette 5, i.e., a first recording means, is providedintegrally with the IC memory 10, i.e., a second recording means, piecesof control information recorded in the second recording means of adifferent tape cassette will not be confused with each other.

Video signals representing a piece of video software and controlinformation transmitted by the transmitting device are applied to arecording circuit 4 of the subscriber's VTR 3, the video signals and thecontrol information are separated, the video signals are recorded on thetape of the tape cassette 5, and the control information is recorded inthe IC memory 10 mounted on the case of the tape cassette 5. Addresssignals are recorded at a recording starting position and a recordingending position on the tape-to facilitate the recognition of a recordingrange. The tape can be rewound selectively to a recording startingposition by operating a changeover switch included in the VTR 3, so thatthe head of the tape can be quickly located at the recording startingposition.

When reproducing the piece of video software, the video signals are readfrom the tape and the control information is read from the IC memory 10,the video signals and the control information are supplied to areproducing circuit 6, and the reproducing circuit 6 descrambles thevideo signals and the control information to obtain digital signals,converts the digital signals into corresponding analog signals and sendsthe analog signals to a display 7.

A tape rewinding key included in the control information is not acceptedfor a recording section in which scrambled signals are recorded to limitthe repetition of the reproducing operation to an allowable number ofreproducing cycles, for example, one reproducing cycle, transmitted bythe transmitting device. A stop key included in the control informationcan be accepted to enable the subscriber to be absent during thereproducing operation. The reproduction of the residual video signalsmay be disabled once the tape cassette 5 is ejected from thesubscriber's VTR to inhibit rewinding the tape of the tape cassette 5 byVTRs other than the subscriber's VTR. The number of reading cycles forreading the control information from the IC memory 10 is countedautomatically every time the control information stored in the IC memory10 is erased upon the increase of the number of reading cycles beyond anallowable number of reading cycles to limit the repetitions of thereproducing cycle.

Although the control information is erased, the video signals are heldon the tape of the tape cassette. Therefore, when the subscriber desiresto reproduce the video signals again, the subscriber needs to requestonly the control information, including a key code and such, from thevideo software provider and to accept an additional charge. Then, thevideo software provider transmits the control information to thesubscriber's VTR. In this case, the time necessary for receiving thevideo signals is unnecessary, the video signals can be reproducedrepeatedly in a short time and the subscriber is able to save the linecharge. The video software providing system reduces the charge accordingto the increase of the number of repetitions of the reproducing cyclefor some pieces of video software.

The video software providing system allows the subscriber to choose anaccounting system that accepts advance payment. When the subscriberapproves the payment of a charge for a desired number of reproducingcycles when requesting a piece of video software from the video softwareprovider, control information representing a prepaid charge istransmitted through the cable television line to the IC memory 10 andthe prepaid charge is recorded on the IC memory 10. A predeterminedcharge is subtracted from the prepaid charge every time the key code isread from the IC memory 10. The control information is not erased and isheld on the IC memory 10 while the residual prepaid charge is greaterthan a charge for further reproducing cycles, and hence a request forthe control information need not be repeated. The balance of the prepaidcharge can be displayed for confirmation on the display 7 by giving aninstruction to the display 7 by operating the VTR 3 or a remotecontroller for controlling the VTR 3.

In FIG. 7, when sending the video signals from the reproducing circuitto the display, false signals for causing the automatic gain controlsystem of the VTR 3 to malfunction are mixed in the video signals todisable copying the video signals by degrading the quality of picturesreproduced from copy tapes, so that the video signals cannot be copied.

Although this embodiment uses a tape cassette as a recording medium anda VTR as a recorder, the tape cassette and the VTR may be replaced byany kind of recording medium and a recorder suitable for using therecording medium, such as a disk and a disk recorder, or a semiconductormemory and an I/O unit.

The video software providing system in this embodiment limits only thenumber of reproducing cycles and retains the piece of video software onthe recording medium. Therefore, the video software providing system isnot perfectly safe to inhibit the unfair use of the piece of videosoftware. A method capable of surely erasing the informationsimultaneously with a reproducing operation or after the reproducingcycle has been repeated a predetermined number of times will beexplained with reference to FIGS. 8 to 11.

FIG. 8 shows a rotary drum unit 13 for a reproducing system or arecording/reproducing system, provided with a first head 14 and a secondhead 15 for recording or reproducing signals. The heads 14 and 15 aredisposed diametrically opposite to each other. Indicated at 11 is athird head. A tape 18 is guided by guides 25 and 26 so as to be wrappedaround the rotary drum unit 13 and travels in the direction of the arrowA. The rotary drum unit 13 rotates in the direction of the arrow B.

FIG. 9 is a side view of the rotary drum unit 13. The rotary drum unit13 comprises a rotary drum 27 and a stationary drum 28. As shown in FIG.8, the head 14, i.e., a recording/reproducing head, and the head 15, notshown in FIG. 9, are disposed diametrically opposite to each other. Thetape 18 is guided by the guides 25 and 26 so as to be wrapped helicallyaround the rotary drum unit 13 and travels in the direction of the arrowA. When the rotary drum 27 rotates, the heads 14 and 11 scan the tape 18in the direction of the arrow B.

FIG. 11 shows the respective heights of the head gaps of the headsmounted on the rotary drum 27 with respect to a direction parallel tothe axis of rotation of the rotary drum 27. The respective head gaps ofthe heads 14 and 15 with respect to the direction parallel to the axisof rotation of the rotary drum 27 are equal to each other. The upper endof the head gap of the head 11 is on a level equal to or below the levelof the lower ends of the head gaps of the heads 14 and 15.

FIG. 12 shows signals recorded on the tape 18 and being reproduced withthe heads 14 and 15. The heads 14 and 15 may be used for recording. Thetape 18 travels in the direction of the arrow A. First, the head 14scans a track 19 from a position HI to a position HI′. Simultaneouslywith, immediately before or after the separation of the head 14 from thetape 18 after arriving at the position HI′, the head 15 starts scanninga track 20 contiguous with the track 19 from the position H2.Simultaneously with, immediately before or after the separation of thehead 15 from the tape 18 after arriving at a position H2′, the head 14starts scanning a track 21 adjacent to the track 20 from a position H3.Thus, the heads 14 and 15 scan successive tracks to reproduce signalsrecorded on the tracks.

When the head 14, which has started scanning the track 21 from theposition H3, arrives at a position H3″, the head 11 starts scanning thetrack 20, which had been scanned by the head 15 and from which signalshad been reproduced before the head 14 started scanning the track 21from the position H3, from the position H2. If the head 11 creates amagnetic field that erases the signals recorded on the track 20, thesignals recorded on the track 20 are erased by the head 11. If the head11 writes signals different from those recorded on the track 20, thesignals recorded on the track 20 are replaced with the signals writtenby the head 11. The heads 11, 14 and 15 scan the tracks successively insuch a sequence that the head 11 is able to erase or to disable thereproduction of the signals recorded on the tracks which have beenscanned by the head 15. The arrangement of the head may be the same asthat of the control information recording head that records thereproduction repetition information and the execution processinformation. The control information recording head may be used as anerasing head when reproduction repetition control is not performed orafter the number of reproducing cycles has reached the allowable numberof reproducing cycles. If the gap width 11′ of the head 11 shown in FIG.11 is increased downward so that the gap width of the head 11 is twicethe gap width 14′ or 15′ of the heads 14 or 15 or greater, the head 11will be able to erase or to disable the reproduction of the signalsrecorded on the tracks which have been scanned by the head 14 as well asthe signals recorded on the tracks which have been scanned by the head15. Although the head 11 erases or rewrites all the signals on each ofthe tracks scanned by the head 11 in this embodiment, the head 11 mayerase a portion of the signals on each of the tracks, for example, 30%or above, 50% or above, 80% or above, preferably, 90% or above of thesignals on each of the tracks. A signal to erase or to disable thereproduction. of the signals recorded on the tracks may be supplied tothe head 11 to erase or to disable the reproduction of the signalsimmediately after the signals have been reproduced. When it is permittedto reproduce the signals a given number of times, for example H times, asignal to erase or to disable the reproduction of the signals recordedon the tracks is applied to the head 11 in the N-th (N=M−1) reproducingcycle.

The tape cassette and the VTR employed in this embodiment as a recordingmedium and a recording device may be replaced by any other suitablerecording medium and any other suitable recorder, such as a disk and adisc recorder, or a semiconductor memory and an I/O unit. When a diskrecorder is employed, the disk recorder is provided with a first head ora first pickup, and a second head, and a signal to erase signalsrecorded on the tracks is supplied to the second head trailing the firsthead to erase the signals after the same have been reproduced with thefirst head. The second head may write signals different from the signalsrecorded on the tracks in a replace mode.

A second embodiment of the present invention will be described withreference to FIGS. 13 to 16 as applied to a video software providingsystem, such as a VOD system, and a conventional VTR system, such as asystem compatible with a VHS system.

FIG. 13 shows a rotary drum unit 13 provided with heads 14, 15, 16 and17 for recording or reproducing signals for a VOD system, i.e., a firstsystem, and heads 11 and 12 for recording or reproducing signals for aVHS system, i.e., a second system. The heads 14 and 15 are disposedadjacently, and the heads 16 and 17 are disposed adjacently forsimultaneous two-channel recording. The heads 14 and 15 are disposeddiametrically opposite to the heads 16 and 17, respectively. The heads11 and 12 are paired for recording or reproducing signals and aredisposed diametrically opposite to each other. A tape 18 is guided byguides 25 and 26 so as to be wrapped around the rotary drum unit 13 asit travels in the direction of the arrow A. The rotary drum unit 13rotates in the direction of the arrow B.

FIG. 14 is a side view of the rotary drum unit 13. The rotary drum unit13 comprises a rotary drum 27 and a stationary drum 28. The heads 14 and15 are recording/reproducing heads for the VOD system, i.e., the firstsystem. As shown in FIG. 13, the heads 14 and 15 are disposeddiametrically opposite to the heads 16 and 17, not shown in FIG. 14,respectively. The head 11 is a recording/reproducing head for the VHSsystem, i.e., the second system. As shown in FIG. 13, the heads 11 and12 are disposed diametrically opposite to each other. The tape 18 isguided by the guides 25 and 26 so as to be wrapped helically around therotary drum unit 13 as it travels in the direction of the arrow A. Whenthe rotary drum 27 rotates, the heads 14, 15 and 11 scan the tape 18 inthe direction of the arrow B.

FIG. 15 shows the respective heights of the head gaps of the headsmounted on the rotary drum 27 with respect to a direction parallel tothe axis of rotation of the rotary drum 27. The respective head gaps ofthe heads 14 and 15 are on different levels, respectively, with respectto a direction parallel to the axis of rotation of the rotary drum 27.The respective head gaps of the heads 16 and 17 are on different levels,respectively, with respect to a direction parallel to the axis ofrotation of the rotary drum 27. The heads 14 and 16 are on the samelevel, and the heads 15 and 17 are on the same level. The upper ends ofthe respective head gaps of the heads 11 and 12 are on or below thelevel of the lower ends of the respective head gaps of the heads 14 and16.

FIG. 16 is a view to provide assistance in explaining the operations ofthe heads 14, 15, 16 and 17 for reproducing signals of the VOD systemrecorded on the tape 18. The heads 14, 15, 16 and 17 may be used forrecording. The tape 18 travels in the direction of the arrow A. First,the head 14 scans a track 19 from a position HI to a position HI′ and,at the same time, the head 15 scans a track 20 contiguous with the track19 from a position H2 to a position H2′. Simultaneously with,immediately before or after the separation of the heads 14 and 15 fromthe tape 18 after arriving respectively at the positions HI′ and H2′,the head 16 starts scanning a track 21 contiguous with the track 20 froma position H3 and, at the same time, the head 17 starts scanning a track22 contiguous with the track 21 from a position H4. Simultaneously withor after the separation of the heads 16 and 17 from the tape 18 afterarriving respectively at positions H3′ and H4′, the heads 14 and 15start scanning a track 23 contiguous with the track 22 from a positionH5 and a track 24 from a position H6, respectively. The foregoing seriesof scanning operations is repeated to reproduce the signals. The signalsof the VHS system are reproduced with the heads 11 and 12 using the samereproducing procedure as that carried out by the first embodiment.

Although operation for recording or reproducing the signals of the VHSsystem is withheld during operation for recording or reproducing thesignals of the VOD system, the heads 11 and 12 scan the tape 18. Sincethe heads 11 and 12 are arranged as illustrated in FIGS. 13 to 15 on therotary drum 27, for example, the head 12 starts scanning the track 20from the position 112 upon the arrival of the heads 16 and 17, whichstarted scanning the tracks 21 and 22 from the positions H3 and H4, atpositions H3″ and H4″, respectively. The track 20 has been scanned bythe head 15 and the signals recorded on the track 20 have beenreproduced before the heads 16 and 17 start scanning the tracks 21 and22. If the head 12 creates a magnetic field capable of erasing thesignals previously recorded on the track 20, the signals previouslyrecorded on the track 20 are erased by the head 12. If the head 12records on the track 20 signals different from those previously recordedon the track 20 in a replace mode, the signals different from thosepreviously recorded on the track 20 are recorded on the track 20. Thehead 11 starts scanning the track 22 from the position H4 upon thearrival of the heads 14 and 15, which started scanning the tracks 23 and24 from the positions H5 and H6, at positions H5″ and HG″, respectively.The track 22 has been scanned by the head 17 and the signals recorded onthe track 22 have been reproduced before the heads 14 and 15 scan thetracks 23 and 24. The head 11, similar to the head 12, erases thesignals previously recorded on the track 22 or writes on the track 22signals different from those previously recorded on the track 22 in areplace mode. The foregoing series of scanning operations is repeated toerase or to disable the reproduction of the signals recorded on thetracks after the signals have been scanned and reproduced with the heads15 and 17. If the respective gap widths 11′ and 12′ of the heads 11 and12 shown in FIG. 15 are increased downward so that the widths 11′ and12′ are twice the gap width of the head 14, 15, 16 or 17 or greater, theheads 11 and 12 are able to erase or to disable the reproduction of thesignals recorded on the tracks scanned by the heads 14 and 16 as well asthe signals recorded on the tracks scanned by the heads 15 and 17.Although the heads 11 and 12 erase or rewrite all the signals recordedon the tracks in this example, the heads 11 and 12 may erase or rewritea portion of the signals, for example, 30% or above, 50% or above, 80%or above, preferably, 90% or above of the signals.

In the system in this embodiment, which is compatible with two systems,when reproducing signals recorded by the VOD system and, at the sametime, erasing or disabling the reproduction of the signals recorded onthe tape, the signals are erased or the reproduction of the signals isdisabled by the head of the VHS system. Therefore, no special head forerasing or disabling the reproduction of the signals is necessary, whichreduces the cost of the system. If the head of the VHS system is usedfor recording the reproduction repetition information and the executionprocess information, further reduction of the cost is possible.

Although this embodiment employs a tape cassette and a VTR as arecording medium and a recording device, the tape cassette and the VTRmay be replaced by any other suitable recording medium and any othersuitable recording device, such as a disk and a disk recorder, or asemiconductor memory and an I/O unit. When a disk recorder is employedin a system capable of recording/reproducing operations in two modes,the disk recorder is provided with a first head or a first pickup for afirst mode and a second head for a second mode, and the second head isdisposed so as to trail the first head during the reproducing operation.When the second head scans tracks which have been scanned by the firsthead and the second head creates a magnetic field to erase the signalsrecorded on the tracks, the signals are erased by the second head afterbeing reproduced with the first head. If the second head records on thetrack signals different from those previously recorded on the tracks ina replace mode, the signals different from those previously recorded onthe tracks are recorded on the tracks.

Another embodiment that erases signals after the signals have beenreproduced will be described hereinafter with reference to FIGS. 17 to23.

FIG. 17 is a schematic plan view of a VTR 3, showing a tape path. A tape18 unwound from a feed reel 51 is guided by entrance tape guides 52 to59 so as to travel around a rotary drum 27, is guided by exit tapeguides 61 to 68 to a take-up reel 69 and is taken up on the take-up reel69. A full-track erase head 80 capable of full-track erasing is disposednear the exit tape guide 65. The full-track erase head 80 is notactuated while the number of executed reproducing cycles is smaller thanan allowable number of reproducing cycles included in allowablecondition information, so that signals recorded on the tape 18 areretained after the same have been reproduced. During the lastreproducing cycle, the full-track erase head 80 is actuated to erase thesignals sequentially after the signals have been reproduced to disable afurther reproducing cycle.

Since all the signals on the tape are erased by the full-track erasehead in this embodiment, a highly reliable disabling operation can beachieved and the repetition of the reproducing cycle can be limited toan allowable number of reproducing cycles. When the system includes aVTR of the VHS system type provided with a fill-track erase headdisposed between entrance tape guides, the parts and the driving circuitof the VTR can be used for such a purpose to reduce the cost of thesystem.

If the full-track erase head 80 malfunctions during the last reproducingcycle or the full-track erase head 80 is modified unjustly so as not tofunction normally, the signals cannot be erased and the reliability oflimiting the repetition of the reproducing cycle to the allowable numberof reproducing cycles is reduced. Accordingly, this embodiment isprovided with the following decision means for deciding whether thefull-track erase head 80 is operating normally or abnormally. Referringto FIGS. 18( a), 18(b) and 18(c), the tape 18 is located and reversedup-to a position which is before the head 90 of recorded information tobe reproduced and is obtained by rewinding a portion corresponding to atest section for testing the operation of the full-track erase head 80,before the last reproducing cycle is started, as shown in FIG. 18( a).After the reels are rotated in the normal direction to feed the tape 18for reproducing the signals, the head of the rotary drum 27 records atest signal 81 in the test section as shown in FIG. 18( b). As the tape18 is fed in the normal direction, the test section in which the testsignal 81 is recorded arrives at the full-track erase head 80, as shownin FIG. 18( c). If the full-track erase head 80 is in the normal state,the test signal 81 recorded by the head of the rotary drum 27 is erased.After the test section has passed the position corresponding to thefull-track erase head 80, the tape 18 is rewound again to the positionshown in FIG. 18( a). If the full-track erase head 80 is in the normalState, the test signal 81 is erased and hence the head of the rotarydrum 27 does not provide any signal. If the full-track erase head 80malfunctions, the test signal is not erased and hence the head of therotary drum 27 provides a signal upon the detection of the test signal81. Then, it is decided that the full-track erase head 80 is in anabnormal state and the reproduction start command is refused.

Although all the signals are erased in this embodiment, it is alsopossible to interfere with the reproducing operation by erasing only thesignals on part of the width of the tape, depending on the signalsprocessed by the system or the recording format.

Although this embodiment carries out the erasing operation continuouslywith respect to a time axis for the entire length of the tape, signalsonly in portions of the length of the tape may be erased; that is, theerasing operation may be executed intermittently, depending on thesignals processed by the system and the recording format.

Although this embodiment erases all the recorded signals completely,i.e., at an erasing ratio of about 100%, the recorded signals may beerased at a lower erasing ratio, for example, 50%, depending on thesignals processed by the system, provided that the reproduced signalsare deteriorated effectively.

Although this embodiment uses an erase head for erasing the recordedsignals, signals different, from the recorded signals may be recorded inan overwrite mode with, for example, an audio head so that thereproduced signals are deteriorated, depending on the signals processedby the system.

Although this embodiment records signals with a head mounted on a rotarydrum in a helical recording mode, signals may be recorded by a taperecorder provided with a stationary head 91 and an erase head 80 b, asshown in FIG. 19.

Although this embodiment uses a head exclusively for disabling signalreproduction in addition to the head mounted on the rotary drum 27,signal reproduction can be disabled with a head mounted on the rotarydrum 27, which will be described hereinafter.

Referring to FIG. 20, a rotary drum 27 is provided with a first head 104and a second head 105 for signal recording or signal reproducing. Theheads 104 and 105 are disposed diametrically opposite to each other. Therotary drum 27 is provided with a third head 101, which is usedexclusively for disabling signal reproduction. If the system is providedwith an EP head which functions when a VTR of a VHS system operates inan SP mode, the EP head can be used for disabling signal reproductionand the system need not be provided with any head exclusively fordisabling signal reproduction. A tape 18 travels in the direction of thearrow B and the rotary drum 27 rotates in the direction of the arrow A.

FIG. 21 is a side view of the rotary drum 27. The head 104, which is arecording/reproducing head, and the head 105, not shown in FIG. 21, aredisposed diametrically opposite to each other, as shown in FIG. 20. Thethird head 101 is disposed near the first head 104. As shown in FIG. 21,the tape 18 travels in the direction of the arrow B. When the rotarydrum 27 rotates, the first head 104 and the third head 101 scan the tape18 in the direction of the arrow C.

FIG. 22 shows the respective heights of the head gaps of the headsmounted on the rotary drum 27 with respect to a direction parallel tothe axis of rotation of the rotary drum 27. The head gaps of the heads104 and 105 are on the same level with respect to a direction parallelto the axis of rotation of the rotary drum 27. The upper end of the headgap of the third head 101 is on a level equal to or below the level ofthe lower ends of the head gaps of the heads 104 and 105.

FIG. 23 shows signals recorded on the tape 18 which are reproduced withthe heads 104 and 105. The heads 104 and 105 may be used for recordingsignals. The tape 18 travels in the direction of the arrow B (FIG. 23).Referring to FIG. 23, first, the head 104 scans a track 109 from aposition HI to a position HI′. Simultaneously with or after theseparation of the head 104 from the tape 18 after arriving at theposition HI′, the head 105 starts scanning a track 110 contiguous withthe track 109 from a position H2. Simultaneously with or after theseparation of the head 105 from the tape 18 after arriving at a positionH2′, the head 104 starts scanning a track 111 contiguous with the track110 from a position H3. The series of those scanning operations isrepeated to reproduce the signals.

The head 101 disposed on the rotary drum 27, as shown in FIGS. 20 to 22starts scanning the track 110 from the position H2 upon the arrival ofthe head 104, which has started scanning the track 111 from the positionH3 at a position H3″. The track 110 has been scanned and signalsrecorded on the track 110 have been reproduced with the head 105 beforethe head 104 scans the track 111. If the head 101 creates a magneticfield capable of erasing signals recorded on the track 110, the signalsrecorded on the track 110 are erased when the track-110 is scanned withthe head 101. If the head 101 records on the track 110 signals differentfrom those previously recorded on the track 110 in a replace mode,signals different from those previously recorded on the track 110 arerecorded on the track 110 when the track 110 is scanned with the head101. The series of those scanning operations is repeated to erase or todisable the reproduction of the signals recorded on tracks scanned withthe head 105 for reproduction. If the gap width of the head 101 shown inFIG. 22 is increased downward to a width twice the gap width of the head104 or 105 or above, the head 101 is able to erase or to disable thereproduction of the signals recorded on tracks scanned with the head 104as well as the signals recorded on tracks scanned with the head 105.

Although the recording medium is a tape in this embodiment, therecording medium may be a semiconductor storage device, a disk or thelike.

If a semiconductor storage device is employed as the recording mediumand the semiconductor storage device has a single I/O terminal,reproducing periods and erasing periods are used in a time-divisionsystem, and information reproduced in a reproducing period may be erasedin a subsequent erasing period, as shown in FIG. 24( a). In a system forprocessing signals which must be continuous, such as video signals, thesignals are recorded in a time-base compressing system, and thereproduced signals are expanded in a time-base expanding system, asshown, in FIG. 24( b), the reproduced signals are stored temporarily ina buffer memory or the like, and the stored signals are providedcontinuously so that signals are not missing in erasing periods. If thesemiconductor storage device has a plurality of I/O terminals, some ofthe I/O terminals may be used exclusively for reproducing and the restmay be used exclusively for erasing. A specific address of thesemiconductor storage device is assigned to the allowable number ofreproducing cycles, and a specific address is assigned to the decisionof the erasing function. The specific address assigned to the decisionof the erasing function may be kept blank.

When a disk is employed as a recording medium and the recording deviceis provided with a single head, the head is shifted radially afterscanning each track twice to reproduce signals in the first scanningcycle and to erase the signals in the second scanning cycle. If thesignals must be continuous, the signals may be processed by the sameprocedure as the aforesaid procedure used for processing the signalsstored in the semiconductor storage device. If the recording device isprovided with a plurality of heads, some of the plurality of heads maybe used exclusively for reproducing and the rest may be used exclusivelyfor erasing, which is the same practice as that taken for reproducingand erasing signals recorded in the semiconductor storage device. Thereproducing cycle limiting information may be recorded on specifiedtracks, a specific track may be assigned to the decision of the erasingfunction and may be kept blank.

The embodiments and the modifications described above may be used incombination.

The present invention is capable of controlling operations forreproducing information provided by an information provider, as well asoperations for recording the information, of limiting the repetition ofthe reproducing cycle to a specified number of reproducing cycles and ofachieving reliable management of the information provided by theinformation provider.

1. An information management apparatus comprising: a receiver whichreceives main information; a recorder which records said maininformation on a recording medium; a main information reproducer whichreproduces said main information on said recording medium; and areproduction management means for managing said main informationreproducer, wherein said reproduction management means is provided witha reproduction disabling means for disabling operation of said maininformation reproducer, and wherein said reproduction disabling meanscomprises: decision means for deciding whether the reproductiondisabling function of said reproduction disabling means is normal, and areproduction start refusing means for refusing a reproduction startcommand requesting start of an operation for reproducing said maininformation by said main information reproducer, when said decisionmeans decides that the reproduction disabling function of saidreproduction disabling means is abnormal.
 2. An information managementapparatus according to claim 1, wherein said reproduction disablingmeans erases at least a portion of the main information recorded on saidrecording medium.
 3. An information management apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein said reproduction disabling means rewrites otherinformation over at least a portion of the main information recorded onsaid recording medium.
 4. An information management apparatus accordingto claim 1, wherein said reproduction disabling means disables the maininformation, recorded on the recording medium, within a predeterminedtime after said main information reproducer reproduces the transmittedsignal.